Method for fabricating long length hose utilizing an internal moving mandrel

Abstract

A method is described for fabricating long length hose around an internal moving mandrel comprising the steps of forming an inner tube of an elastomeric or thermoplastic material, curing said inner tube, inserting a lubricated mandrel interiorly a portion of said cured tube, applying a first layer of uncured elastomer or thermoplastic tie gum to said cured tube surrounding said mandrel, encircling the layer of uncured tie gum with a reinforcing material under tension, adding multiple layers of uncured elastomer or thermoplastic tie gum and encircling reinforcing material as necessary for the hose strength required, placing an uncured elastomer or thermoplastic tie gum final layer on said reinforcing material, adding an uncured hose covering material layer on top of said tie gum final layer, wrapping under tension a strengthening material onto the hose covering material for consolidation and protection of the hose during vulcanization, moving the mandrel from the portion of the complete hose to the adjacent portion of the uncompleted hose, repeating the steps of fabricating a length of hose around the mandrel, and repeating the step of moving the mandrel to the next uncompleted portion of the hose until the full length of the inner tube has received all the fabrication materials, then moving the mandrel out of the hose, vulcanizing the uncured hose to cure the hose, and removing the consolidation wrapping from the completed hose.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of intermittently fabricating long lengths of hose composed of an inner tube, at least a first layer of tie gum material, at least a first layer of reinforcing material, and hose covering material comprising the steps of: forming an inner tube of hose material of a desired length;   inserting a mandrel substantially shorter than said inner tube into said inner tube so that the entire mandrel is covered by a portion of said inner tube;   advancing said inner tube and said mandrel while applying a first layer of tie gum material upon the portion of said inner tube covering the mandrel;   advancing said inner tube and said mandrel along with said tie gum material layer while encircling said first layer of tie gum material with a first layer of reinforcing material;   continuing to advance said inner tube and said mandrel along with said first tie gum material layer and said first layer of reinforcing material and further adding a hose covering material on said layer of reinforcing material to complete the hose fabrication upon the portion of said inner tube covering the mandrel;   moving the mandrel from the portion of the fabricated hose to the next adjacent portion of the inner tube while said portion of fabricated hose is held stationary;   repeating the steps of fabricating the hose upon the inner tube immediately surrounding the mandrel;   repeating the steps of moving the mandrel to the next portion of the inner tube and fabricating the hose upon the inner tube immediately surrounding the mandrel until the full length of the inner tube has received all the fabrication materials;   moving the mandrel out of the hose; and   vulcanizing the hose to cure the hose.   
     
     
       2. The method of fabricating long lengths of hose as defined in claim 1 further including the following step after forming the inner tube of hose material: providing lubrication interiorly to the inner tube.   
     
     
       3. The method of fabricating long lengths of hose as defined in claim 2 wherein prior to inserting a mandrel interiorly the inner tube, an additional step is added comprising: lubricating the mandrel.   
     
     
       4. A method of fabricating long lengths of hose as defined in claim 3 wherein the step of moving the mandrel from the portion of the completed hose to the next adjacent portion of the inner tube includes the step of: pushing the mandrel forward into the uncompleted hose.   
     
     
       5. The method of fabricating long lengths of hose as defined in claim 4 wherein the step of pushing the mandrel forward includes the step of: applying pressure against the end of the mandrel to push the mandrel forward.   
     
     
       6. The method for fabricating long lengths of hose as defined in claim 5 further comprising the steps of: applying alternate multiple layers of tie gum materials with alternate multiple layers of encircling reinforcing materials upon said first layer of reinforcing materials;   placing a final layer of tie gum material upon the last layer of reinforcing material prior to adding the hose covering material;   wrapping under tension the strengthening material onto the hose covering material for consolidation and protection of the hose during vulcanization; and   removing the consolidation wrapping from the cured hose after vulcanization.   
     
     
       7. The method of fabricating long lengths of hose as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of inserting a mandrel interiorly the inner tube comprises the step of: inserting a self-lubricating mandrel interiorly the inner tube.   
     
     
       8. A method of fabricating long lengths of hose comprising the steps of: forming an inner tube of hose material of the desired length;   inserting a mandrel of a length substantially shorter than the inner tube interiorly the inner tube;   continually moving the mandrel through the inner tube while;   fabricating the hose or hose material upon the inner tube immediately surrounding the moving mandrel; then   moving the mandrel out of the completed hose; and   vulcanizing the hose to cure the hose.